International Students and Scholars Office > Archive > Category: Policy Updates

Presidential Actions and New Laws – January 2025

January 24, 2025

Original communication sent January 24, 2025

Dear UT Dallas International Students and Alumni,

We hope that the start of your year is going well. We know that some of you may have questions or concerns about immigration related executive orders (EO), directives, and new laws that are being implemented since President Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025. You can find a list of the most relevant of these actions and our analysis of their potential implications for our international students below.

What immigration related Presidential Actions and laws are going into effect?

What effects or implications does this have on international student/scholar visa statuses?

Generally, most of these actions should not have an immediate direct effect on individuals in active and lawful non-immigrant statuses. However, the following points may be relevant to our students and alumni, depending on your situation.

  • Change in interpretation of U.S. birthright citizenship – Reinterprets citizenship provisions in the constitution to not automatically extend to persons born in the United States. The children not automatically provided citizenship will include children whose mother’s presence in the United States at the time of said person’s birth was lawful but temporary (such as, but not limited to, visiting on a student, work, or tourist visa) and the father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth. The order is slated to take effect on February 19.
    • This EO is currently under court review and may not go into effect as originally intended.
  • Change in policy of gender markers on U.S. government documents – It is now required that government-issued identification documents, including visas, reflect the holder’s sex, as defined under section 2 of Executive Order: Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government.
  • Immigration Enforcement Actions on Campus – Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or other federal agents have expanded ability to engage in enforcement actions on college campuses, in hospitals, and in other previously protected ‘sensitive’ areas in a statement from DHS spokesperson.
  • Prompt removal from the U.S. of individuals who are out of status – DHS is prioritizing for removal any individual in the U.S. without a valid status including those who fall out of status after a lawful entry.
  • Expanded detention and deportation consequences for individuals charged with criminal offenses. The Laken Riley bill, which is soon to become law, will subject individuals without a valid immigration status to detention and deportation for offenses such as shoplifting and theft. Individuals become subject to these impacts after arrest, conviction or admission of having committed these unlawful acts; conviction of a crime is not a requirement. 
  • Enhanced vetting. Additional vetting and screening of people both seeking admission to and already in the U.S. to find those who threaten U.S. national security, espouse hateful ideology or exploit immigration laws for malevolent purposes.

What you should do

  • If you are an expecting parent who may deliver a baby in the U.S. after February 19, 2025, reach out for advising regarding the immigration and citizenship status of your child.
  • Carry copies of your immigration documents (I-20/ DS-2019, passport, visa/ I-797A, etc.) with you at all times. If you have not already been doing so, you should ensure that you follow this practice going forward.
  • Interacting with law enforcement in the U.S. may be very different than what you may be used to in your home country. Know your rights when interacting with law enforcement.  
  • Ensure that you are taking appropriate steps to maintain your non-immigrant status. Review information on the International Center webpage (Maintain F-1 Status, Maintain J-1 Status). Do everything within your power not to put your status at risk. If you fall out of status for any reason or are currently without a valid status talk to an ISSO advisor and take steps as soon as possible to regain your status.
  • Remember, presidential actions may be impacted by the outcome of lawsuits and judicial review. Stay informed using reputable sources of information. This includes U.S. government resources (USCIS, SEVP, ICE) and ISSO resources and communications. As noted, our office will communicate promptly when any significant immigration changes occur that may affect our students and alumni. Continue to monitor your UTD email, ISSO social media, and our Immigration Newsletter for updates. If you have questions about any changes that may occur, refer our advising services.
  • Educate yourself on what types of actions are considered crimes in the U.S.
  • Seek out other campus resources as needed, such as the Student Government Immigration Attorney, Counseling Center, or any relevant student organizations for support.

ISSO is here for you

Our goal is to ensure that you have the information you need to manage your immigration status during your time in the U.S. You can reach out to the ISSO through your iComet Portal, join us for a Live Chat online, or schedule an appointment. You can also check us out on Facebook or Instagram.